Fan mounting



June 26, 1951 Filed March 25, 1947 .D. M. COTTEN FAN MOUNTING 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 DENNIS M. COTTEN INVENTOR.

ATTOZNFY June 26, 1951 D. M. COTTEN 7 2,558,541

FAN MOUNTING Filed March 25, 1947 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 DENNIS M. COTTEN 4 INVENTOR.

BY a

Patented June 26, 1951 1 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FAN MOUNTING Dennis M. Gotten, Dallas, Tex.

Application March 25, 1947, Serial No. 737,146 6 Claims. (01. 248-16) This invention relates to new and useful improvements in fan mountings, and more particularly to mountings for exhaust-type fans which are adapted to be mounted at a window or like opening for the purpose of displacing heated air and inducing the flow of cool fresh air into the building through other windows.

One object of the invention is to provide an improved flexible mounting for an exhaust fan and the driving motor therefor.

An important object of the invention is to provide an improved flexible exhaust fan mounting which permits movement of the fan and the driving motor independently of the frame or housing for the fan, whereby the operating vibration of the fan and motor are absorbed by the mounting and the noises resulting therefrom are substantially eliminated.

Another object of the invention is to provide a fan mounting, of the character described, wherein the support for the fan and motor mounting is secured to the building or other object on which the assembly is mounted, and wherein the fan housing or frame coacts with the building or other object to maintain the fan mounting support substantially rigid.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved fan mounting of the character described, wherein the fan, the motor, and their associated parts are readily accessible for adjustment, replacement or repair.

Still another object of the invention is to pro vide a fan mounting of the character described which is simple and economical to construct, install and operate.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an improved stand for supporting a fan mounting of the character described, whereby the fan may be set up and operated at any location in the building, the stand being adapted to fold to compact form when not in use.

Additional objects and advantages of the invention will readily be apparent from a reading of the following description of a device constructed in accordance with the invention, and reference to the accompanying drawings thereof,

wherein:

Figure 1 is an end elevation of a fan mounting constructed in accordance with the invention, and ShOWiIlg the same in position at a building window,

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 22 of Figure 1,

Figure 3 is an isometric view of the fan mounting and fan frame, with the fan and motor removed,

Figure 4 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view of the fan shaft mounting, and

Figure 5 is an isometric view of a portable stand adapted to support the fan in operating position.

In the drawings, the numeral designates a' rectangular substantially square-box-like housing or frame, which is provided at one end with a cover or bafile plate I I, preferably formed of sheet metal or the like, having a central circular opening l2 formed therein. The edge portions of the baffle plate are turned inwardly to form flanges l3 by means of which the baffle plate is secured to the housing or frame.

A large substantially U -shaped support member or bracket I4 is secured by means of bolts l5 to the side of the housing l0 near the upper end thereof. The bracket extends outwardly in a plane vertical to the plane of the bafile plate and closely adjacent the upper edge of the opening I2 in said baffle plate. The ends of the parallel arms of the bracket are turned outwardly to form flanges I6 extending parallel to the inner end of the housing and having openings I'l formed therein, whereby the bracket and the housing connected therewith maybe secured to the frame F of a window or similar opening. The lower side of the housing It is preferably rested upon the window sill S and the flanges I6 securely screwed or bolted to the vertical frame members of the window, whereby the housing frame and the support or bracket are rigidly supported by the window frame and sill.

A substantially V-shaped fan supporting sling or hammock 20 has the upper ends of its divergent arms secured by rivets 2! or the like to the outer ends of the parallel arms of the U-shaped bracket or support member 14 near the base or cross-piece thereof. The side arms of the sling converge downwardly toward a table or bearing support 22 which is disposed in a horizontal plane and perpendicular to the plane of the bafiie plate ll.

A fan shaft 25 is rotatably mounted in a journal member 26 carried upon the table 22, and extends perpendicular to the surface of the baille plate in substantial alignment with the center of the opening l2 formed in said baille plate. The journal member is secured to the table by bolts 21, and has a pair of friction reducing bearing bushings 28 pressed into each end of its horizontal bore and in which the shaft 25 rotates. The bearing bushings are preferably of Oilite, or similar lubricant impregnated material requiring little lubrication. A thrust bearing 29 of fabric, leather, or the like, is secured on the shaft between a thrust washer 30 and the outermost bearing bushing 28. A cap screw 3| is threaded into the outer end of the shaft 25 and presses against the thrust Washer 30, whereby the shaft is held against longitudinal displacement inwardly from the journal 26.

A fan assembly having a plurality of blades 35 mounted on a hub 36 is mounted on the inner end of the shaft 25 and held in position thereon by a lock screw 31. -A large drive pulley 38 is mounted on the fan shaft 25 between the fan hub 36 and the bearing 'journal 26, being secured against rotation thereon by a key (not shown) engaging in a key way 39 formed in said shaft. An electric motor 49 having a small drive pulley 4| mounted on its drive shaft is secured by means of bolts 45 on a horizontally disposed plate or motor platform 46. The platform 46 has angular upturned flange portions 41 at its ends, by means of which it is secured by bolts 48 to the divergent arms of the sling or hammock 25] just above the table 22 at the lower end of the sling.

A belt 42 connects the motor pulley 4] with the I fan drive pulley 38, whereby the electric motor 40 drives the fan.

prevented or entirely eliminated. It will therefore be seen that the bracket or support is held substantially rigidly in a horizontal plane, though it is secured to the window frame only at the flanges. [-6. This provides an improved simplified The motor platform 46 is disposed rather closely to the bearing support or table 22 and extends in parallel relationship therewith, whereby the portions of the divergent arms of the sling between said platform and table are substantially rigid. However, the elongate por. tions of the divergent arms of the sling between the motor platform and the bracket or support I4 are sufiiciently long to permit flexing or yibration of such portions. The materialfrom which the sling or hammock 20 is fabricated is preferably rather thin strip sheet metal, fabric, or the like, encouraging such flexing, whereby the motor and fan are resiliently or flexibly supported from the bracket Hi by the sling or hammock and may undergo vibratory displacement with respect to and independently of the baflic plate ll.

The bracket or support i l and the housing ill with the baiile plate ll secured thereto are rigidly mounted on the window frame and sill, but the sling or hammock 29 provides for a flexible suspension of the fan and motor due to the flexibility or resiliency of the elongate portions of the sling between the motor platform and the bracket. The operating vibration of the fan and motor are therefore absorbed by thefiexible porticrm of the sling between the motor platform and the bracket and are not transmitted to the bracket or the frame or housing, thereby reducing or substantially eliminating the noises resulting from the operating vibration of such fan and motor.

The opening l2 in the balile plate is slightly larger than the diameter of the fan blade, whereby the displacement of the fan and motor as the Sling or hammock is flexed does not cause the ends of the blades to strike the edges of the bafile plate at the opening.

Since the fan and the motor and their associated parts are supported at the convergent lower end of the sling or hammock 2D and below the outwardly extending bracket i l, it will readily be seen that all parts which wear or might otherwise require servicing or replacement are readily accessible for adjustment, replacement or repair.

Further, since the U-shaped bracket or support member It is secured to the window frame F by bolts or screws extending through the holes I! in the outwardly turned flanges H5 at the inner end of the bracket, and since the parallel arms of the bracket are secured by the bolts l5 to the housing or frame it, it will be seen-that any downward torque on the bracket, due to the weight of the fan and motor acting downwardly on the bracket at the outer end thereof, will be resisted by the engagement of the bottom of the housing with the sill S of the window. Also, such downward torque would tend to swing the bracket Li through an are centered at the flanges l6 and, since the horizontal parallel arms of the bracket are secured by the bolts [5 to the housing or frame I0, this downward swinging would tend to press the inner end of the housing more firmly against the window frame. However, since the inner end of the housing engages the frame, any tendency of the hanging means for mounting the fan and housing-in operating position on a Window or other opening.

Obviously, the fan assembly maybe mounted directly on the motor drive shaft, if desired. In such event the motor would be mounted on the table 22 with the shaft aligned with the center of. .the housing opening l2, and the platform 46 would be omitted. Otherwise, the structure and functioning of the mounting is unchanged.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that an improved flexible mounting for an exhaust fan and driving motor therefor has been provided; that the flexible mounting permits a vibratory movement of the fan and the driving motor with respect to and independently of the frame or housing for'the fan, whereby the operating vibrations of the fan and motor are absorbed by the'flexible mounting and the noises resulting therefrom are substantially eliminated. It will further be seen that an improved simplified mounting arrangement has been disclosed which provides for securing the U-shaped bracket or support member and the fan housing or frame substantially rigidly to window frame or other building opening simply by bolting the outwardly turned jjfianges as to the frame of the window or other opening, the fan housing and the bracket co-acting with the frame of the opening to maintain the bracket in substantially a rigid horizontal position. Furthermore; it is believed readily apparent that the fan and mounting are simple and economical to construct, install and operate; and, that the fan, the motor and their associated parts are readily accessible for adjustment, replacement or repair.

Should it be desired to use the fan at other points in a building than in a window or other opening; for example, as a blower or blast fan sitting on the floor or the like of the building, thefan may be mounted in the portable stand illustrated in Figure 5. Also, the stand may be used for assembling, servicing or demonstrating the fan.

The stand includes an elongate. bottom front angle member 50 and a pair of rearwardly extending side angle members 5i connected, at each of the front corners, to the lower end of upright angle supports 52 by stove bolts 53 or the like. Rearwardly and downwardly extending brace members or straps 54 are connected at one end to the uprights 52 and at their other end to the side angles 5i by means of bolts 55, and an upper front spacer strap 55 is connected to the upper ends of the uprights by bolts 51 whereby the uprights are securely held in spaced vertical position. A rear spacer strap 58 is connected to the rear end of the parallel side angles 5| by bolts 59,'for rigidly spacing the outer ends of the side angle members. A vertical notch 60 is formed intthe upper end of each upright 52 in the side armofthe'angle and adjacent the front arm thereof, and these notches are adapted to receive the outwardly turned flanges it of the bracket or. support member 14 of the fan mounting. The sides and bottom of the frame housing l0 will engage against the front arms of the uprights 52 and the front angle 50, when the flanges H: are engaged in the notches 60, whereby the fan housing and fan mounting are supported in the proper upright operating position.

Manifestly, the stand may be disassembled quickly and the elongate parts thereof placed in parallel relationship to form a compact package for shipment or other movement of the stand; and, when it is desired to use the stand, the parts may be reassembled, in the manner illustrated in Figure 5, to support the fan housing and mounting, whereby the fan may be operated as a blower or blast fan while sitting on the floor or other portion of the building. This portable stand is also particularly suitable for assembling the fan and motor on the mounting and for demonstrating the fan for sale.

The foregoing description of the invention is explanatory only, and changes in the details of the construction illustrated may be made by those skilled in the art, within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A fan mounting including, an upright housing having an opening therein, a substantially U-shaped bracket member having its arms connected with the housing and extending horizontally therefrom, a supporting platform, and a pair of flexible suspending members connected at their upper ends to the parallel arms ofthe bracket at points spaced outwardly from the plane of the housing and converging downwardly to the platform for flexibly supporting said platform in substantially axial alignment with the housing opening, the downwardly converging flexible members permitting the platform to undergo vibratory movement and providing for absorbtion of such vibratory movement of the platform A means, whereby the bracket and housing are free from vibration.

2. A mounting adapted to support a fan and fan motor and including, a horizontal substantially U-shaped bracket, a substantially V-shaped sling member having the divergent upper ends of its arms secured to the parallel arms of the bracket member and having a support table at its converging lower end, and a substantially horizontal rigid platform secured to the arms of the V-shaped sling member near their converging lower ends and spaced above the support table, the portions of the arms between the platform and the bracket being flexible to permit the platform and support table to undergo vibratory movement.

3. A mounting adapted to support a fan and motor and including, a substantially rectangular upright housing having a baflle plate at one end, said baffle plate having a central circular opening formed therein, a substantially U-shaped rigid bracket member having the ends of its arms secured to the sides of the housing near the upper end thereof and projecting perpendicular to the plane of the baffle plate adjacent the upper end of the opening therein, a substantially V-shaped sling member having the divergent upper ends of its arms secured to the parallel arms of the bracket member and spaced from the baffle plate, said sling member also having a support table at its converging lower end, the divergent arms of the sling member being flexible to permit the support table to undergo a vibratory movement with respect to the housing.

4. A fan mounting including, a substantially rectangular upright housing having a baffle plate secured to one end thereof, said baflie plate having a central circular opening formed therein, a substantially U-shaped bracket member having the ends of its parallel arms secured to the sides of the housing near the upper end thereof and extending therefrom at substantially right angles to the plane of the bafile plate and adjacent the upper end of the opening therein, a substantially V-shaped sling member having the divergent upper ends of its arms secured to the portions of the parallel arms of the bracket member adjacent the cross piece thereof, a support table at the converging lower end of the sling member, a substantially horizontal rigid platform secured to the arms of the V-shaped sling member near their converging lower ends and spaced above the support table, the portions of the arms of the sling member between the platform and the bracket being flexible to permit the platform and support table to undergo a vibratory movement with respect to the housing and absorbing such vibration whereby the vibrations are prevented from traveling to the housing.

5. A fan mounting including, an upright frame having a horizontal opening therein, support means carried by the frame and projecting horizontall outwardly therefrom above the axis of the opening, a supporting platform, and a pair of spaced flexible straps connected at their upper ends to the support means and depending therefrom in a plane spaced outwardly from the frame and connected at their lower ends with the supporting platform for resiliently supporting said platform in substantially axial alignment with the horizontal opening in the frame and spaced outwardly therefrom, said flexible straps permitting the supporting platform to undergo vibratory movement independently of the frame.

6. A fan mounting including, an upright housing having a baffle plate with a central opening therein, a plurality of flexible suspending members connected at their upper ends with the housing above the axis of the opening and in a plane spaced from the plane of the bafile plate, and a supporting platform connected to the lower ends of the flexible suspending members and supported thereby in substantially axial alignment with the housing opening, the flexible connecting members permitting the platform to undergo vibratory movement with respect to and independently of the housing.

DENNIS M. COTTEN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,188,987 Persons June 27, 1916 1,306,845 Andrews June 17, 1919 1,485,296 Salmon Feb. 26, 1924 1,575,270 Jankowsky Mar. 2, 1926 1,739,082 Simmons et al Dec. 10, 1929 1,786,203 Gilbert Dec. 23, 1930 1,886,683 Hueglin Nov. 8, 1932 1,887,370 Bothezat Nov. 8, 1932 1,988,951 Korittke Jan. 22, 1935 1,992,112 Allen Feb. 19, 1935 2,055,592 Reed Sept. 29, 1936 2,100,604 Kollsman Nov. 30, 1939 2,276,538 Fey Mar. 17, 1942 

